“Qingxue, weren’t you feeling unwell?” Liu Ying entered from the outer hall and frowned upon seeing Yun Qingxue emerge from the inner chamber.
“I’m feeling much better now,” Yun Qingxue replied with a faint smile, neither rejecting nor showing particular warmth toward Liu Ying.
“Qingxue, what’s troubling you?”
Liu Ying’s words caught Mo Changxing’s attention.
“Let’s see our master first,” Yun Qingxue said with a smile.
Mo Changxing’s brows furrowed even tighter. Without a word, he took Yun Qingxue’s hand.
Yun Qingxue felt an immense and powerful energy flow through her meridians from Mo Changxing’s grip.
The energy circulated through her body once before slowly receding.
Mo Changxing frowned. He had thoroughly examined Yun Qingxue’s body with his magic but found nothing unusual.
“Let’s go. I’ll take you to see our master first,” Mo Changxing said naturally, taking Yun Qingxue’s hand and leading her to the outer hall.
At that moment, Feng Zihuang was sitting in the outer hall chatting with Ziqu Shengjun.
As Yun Qingxue stepped out, she immediately approached Ziqu Shengjun, bowing gracefully. “Qingxue greets Master. I apologize for causing you concern!”
Ziqu Shengjun smiled, his long-held worries finally easing. “As long as you’re safe, all is well,” he said kindly.
“Report—the Dragon King of the Water Tribe requests an audience!” A guard entered and announced to Feng Zihuang.
“Grant him entry!” Feng Zihuang commanded calmly.
Feng Zihuang had long heard rumors of the Water Tribe’s extensive search for someone. Now that the Flower King, Yun Qingxue, had just arrived in his territory, not only had Ziqu Shengjun and his disciples come, but even the Dragon King had appeared.
It seemed the person the Dragon King had been searching for was none other than the Flower King.
But Feng Zihuang couldn’t understand why, the moment the Flower King set foot in his Avian Clan’s domain, these people had followed so closely.
Could there be a traitor among his Avian Clan?
Feng Zihuang lifted his teacup and took a sip, his shimmering eyes revealing a trace of contemplation.
“Xuexue!” Jin Lin entered the hall, his gaze immediately locking onto Yun Qingxue among the crowd.
“Jin Lin,” Yun Qingxue couldn’t help but smile upon seeing him.
“Xuexue, are you alright?” Jin Lin scrutinized her carefully.
“I’m fine!” Yun Qingxue chuckled.
“Honored guests, your presence in my Avian Clan brings me great joy. Please, let us all sit and speak comfortably.”
Feng Zihuang rose, adopting the demeanor of a host.
“Apologies for the intrusion, Phoenix King!” Jin Lin finally turned to Feng Zihuang, offering a polite remark before pulling Yun Qingxue to a seat.
A maid promptly served tea to Jin Lin and Yun Qingxue.
Earlier in the inner hall, Yun Qingxue had felt unbearably thirsty. Now, seeing the tea before her, the sensation intensified.
She hesitated—should she drink it?
Her master was here, as were Senior Brother Changxing and Jin Lin. Surely Feng Zihuang wouldn’t dare to pull any underhanded tricks in front of so many powerful figures.
With that thought, Yun Qingxue finally gave in, lifting the teacup and draining it in one go.
Feng Zihuang had just said something that made Ziqu Shengjun chuckle. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Yun Qingxue emptying her cup, and a subtle, deeply pleased smile flickered across his lips.
After drinking, Yun Qingxue felt no unusual effects, though she still couldn’t explain her earlier thirst.
The Avian Clan’s maid was observant. Seeing Yun Qingxue finish her tea, she immediately refilled it.
Yun Qingxue drank it all again.
The maid silently replaced it once more.
This time, her thirst seemingly quenched, Yun Qingxue didn’t down the tea immediately.
“Xuexue, are you that thirsty?” Jin Lin, noticing her actions, asked with concern.
“I was earlier, but after drinking so much, I feel much better now,” Yun Qingxue replied with a smile.
“Dragon King, what brings you to my Avian Clan?” Feng Zihuang, seated at the head of the hall, suddenly turned his gaze to Jin Lin and inquired politely.
Jin Lin took a sip of tea before answering, “I came with my master to find my junior sister, Qingxue.”
“Junior sister?” Feng Zihuang’s shimmering eyes swept over Ziqu Shengjun, Yun Qingxue, Jin Lin, and Mo Changxing before he asked, puzzled, “And who might the Dragon King’s junior sister be…?”
“The Flower King is my junior sister!” Jin Lin raised an eyebrow at Mo Changxing, setting down his teacup with a light smile. “Recently, my junior sister met with an accident and went missing. My master, senior brother, and I have been searching frantically.
We were so desperate we nearly turned the entire Xuanling Continent upside down!
Who would have thought she’d end up in the Phoenix King’s domain? Ah!”
Jin Lin sighed dramatically. “If not for my master using a special technique to locate her, we might have gone mad with worry!”
“Dragon King, might there be some misunderstanding?” Feng Zihuang detected the underlying implication in Jin Lin’s words and responded with an inscrutable smile.
“Misunderstanding?” Jin Lin feigned ignorance. “What misunderstanding? What does the Phoenix King mean?”
“Flower King, if I have been remiss in any way, I hope you will forgive me.” Feng Zihuang ignored Jin Lin and instead turned his gaze to Yun Qingxue.
“Phoenix King, you flatter me. It was I who trespassed into your territory and caused you trouble. I should be the one asking for your forgiveness,” Yun Qingxue replied with a faint smile, though a strange emotion suddenly stirred within her.
As she looked at Feng Zihuang’s face, her heartbeat inexplicably quickened.
“Flower King, there’s no need for such courtesy. You are a distinguished guest of my Avian Clan! You are always welcome here,” Feng Zihuang said with a charming smile.
Yun Qingxue felt her heart racing even more uncontrollably.
“Master, Qingxue was unwell earlier. I examined her with my magic but found nothing.
Given your mastery of healing arts, perhaps we should return to Luoyun Mountain and conduct a thorough examination?” Mo Changxing’s cool yet slightly mischievous gaze shifted between Feng Zihuang and Yun Qingxue.
He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but Yun Qingxue’s gaze toward Feng Zihuang had suddenly become… unusual.
It was the look of a maiden smitten with her beloved.
Could Qingxue have fallen for Feng Zihuang?
The thought sent a dull ache through Mo Changxing’s heart, but his greater concern was for her safety.
Feng Zihuang was inscrutable and calculating. If Yun Qingxue truly fancied him, Mo Changxing feared she might be exploited.
Their little cabbage was coveted by far too many. If he had to choose among the suitors, Mo Changxing would rather she pick Jin Lin than Feng Zihuang.
At least Jin Lin, though a bit foolish, was utterly sincere in his feelings for her!
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